LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 16/18 Fairfield University men’s lacrosse won their fifth straight game and their ECAC Lacrosse League opener by topping Bellarmine University, 9-3, this afternoon. The Stags are now 7-2 on the season.

Juniors Tristan Sperry and Colin McLinden each had three-point days for the Stags. Sperry had a pair of goals and an assist while McLinden tallied a goal and two assists. Senior Eric Warden netted two goals to bring his total to 24 this season.

Bellarmine (4-4; 0-4 ECAC) struck first, getting on the board at the 10:17 mark in the opening quarter on an Austin Shanks goal. Tucker Ciessau made it 2-0 with a goal with 3:23 left in the quarter. Sperry answered at 1:47 to cut the deficit in half.

McLinden provided the equalizer just 33 seconds into the second quarter while Sperry put the Stags ahead at 13:29. The goals were the first of six unanswered goals for the Stags who kept Bellarmine off the board until the fourth quarter.

After the Knights scored at 8:59 in the fourth to make it 7-3, Warden and TJ Neubauer found the back of the net to send the Stags home with a 9-3 victory.

Bellarmine (4-4; 0-4 ECAC) was eliminated from ECAC Lacrosse League Championship contention with the loss. Fairfield, Air Force, Ohio State, and Michigan will comprise the championship field, May 1-3, in Columbus, Ohio.

Fairfield returns home on April 1 to host Bucknell University on Alumni Field. Please not the time change, as the game will begin at 1pm.